Tripleball

   
Tripleball  is  the  official  competition  format  for  Canadian  regions  offering  13U  age  
competitions.  It  is  recommended  that  tripleball  be  played  during  the  first  half  of  the  season  
in  the  14U  age  category  when  a  13U  age  category  does  not  exist.  The  goal  of  tripleball  is  to  
promote  better  skill  development,  participation,  meaningful  competition,  and  fun.      
 
Overview  of  the  Tripleball  Sequence:  
a) The  game  follows  a  sequence  of  three  rallies  (service,  tossed  ball  1,  tossed  ball  2).  
    *    1st  rally  –  introduced  by  the  server  
    *    2nd  rally  –  tossed  ball  given  to  the  receiving  team  
    *    3rd  rally  –  tossed  ball  given  to  the  serving  team  
b) The  service  rotates  between  teams  after  each  three-­‐ball  sequence.      
c) A  team  must  rotate  and  introduce  a  new  server  when  it  is  their  turn  to  serve.    
d) Every  ball  introduced  is  worth  one  point.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tripleball  Rules:  
a) Switching  to  a  different  position  from  your  service  order  during  a  rally  is  NOT  
ALLOWED.    
b) Each  rotation  will  have  a  different  designated  setter.  The  player  in  position  #3  or  #2  
in  service  reception  will  be  the  designated  setter;  this  position  must  be  noted  on  the  
score-­‐sheet  by  the  coach.  
c) Fair  Play  substitution  rule  applies:  Players  not  starting  in  the  1st  set  must  start  in  the  
2nd  set.    If  there  is  a  3rd  set,  the  coach  has  the  choice  of  starting  any  
players.    Substitutions  are  allowed  during  a  match,  although  Volleyball  Canada  would  
like  emphasize  to  all  coaches,  players  and  parents  that  the  rule  is  intended  to  provide  
every  athlete  with  the  ability  to  participate  equally  in  every  game.  It  is  VC’s  hope  that  
 coaches  only  substitute  when  an  injury  occurs.  
Implementation  of  rule:  Official  or  score  keeper  checks  score  sheet  between  sets  to  
confirm  players  not  starting  in  the  1st  set  are  on  the  score  sheet  at  the  beginning  of  
the  2nd  set.  
d) Time-­‐outs  cannot  occur  during  a  3-­‐ball  sequence.  
e) Athletes  must  play  the  tossed  ball  with  a  forearm  pass,  otherwise  a  replay  will  occur.  
f) Athletes  cannot  intentionally  send  the  tossed  ball  over  the  net,  otherwise  a  replay  
will  occur.  
g) All  other  standard  volleyball  rules  not  listed  above  continue  to  apply.  
 
*Recommendation  for  officials  to  use  an  elastic  band  to  keep  track  of  serving  order  
 
Guidelines  for  Tossers:  
a) The  Head  Coach,  Assistant  Coach  or  a  competent  volunteer  may  be  the  “Tosser”  and  
introduce  balls  to  their  own  team.      
b) Balls  are  tossed  underhand  with  two  hands,  with  little  to  no  spin  and  above  the  
height  of  the  antennae  to  allow  athletes  time  to  play  the  ball.    
c) The  Tosser  can  step  into  the  court  to  introduce  the  ball  but  must  immediately  move  
a  safe  distance  away  from  the  court  after  the  toss.  
d) The  free  ball  must  be  tossed  directly  to  the  athlete  in  position  six,  otherwise  a  replay  
will  occur.  
e) The  free  ball  will  be  introduced  when  the  front  row  players  are  at  the  net  and  ready  
to  transition;  the  Tosser  verbally  cues  the  athletes  by  calling  “Free  Ball”.  Tossers  
encourage  a  fast  paced  transition  between  an  end  of  a  rally  and  the  next  toss.      

Video  demonstration  of  tripleball:  

 http://vcdm.org/teachers/resources/gr-­‐8-­‐9-­‐13-­‐14-­‐triple-­‐ball    
or    
www.vcdm.org    >  Teachers  >  Grade  8-­‐9  Tripleball